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The 



Rhode Island Emigration 



to 



Nova Scotia, 



By 

Kay Greene Hiding, A. M., 
New Bedford, Mass. 



Providence, K. I., 

Eeprinted from the Narragansett Historical Register, 

April, 1889. 



Fio 



of 



4' 



V 






THE RHODE ISLAND EMIGRATION TO 
NOVA SCOTIA. 



By Raj Greene Hilling, A. M., New Bedford, Mass. 




HODE ISLANDERS emigrating to Nova Scotia ? 
How is that ? We are not unacquainted with migra- 
tions from our little state, - all too small from the 
outset to contain the adventurous spirit of her sons. Now 
they carry our well known names to spread over Long Island 
and the Jerseys. Again, they colonize the western hills of 
the Bay State, and move northward to the Green Mountains. 
Then they flock to the banks of the Hudson and the ill-fated 
valley of Wyoming. Central New York abounds with their 
descendants, and of the later waves of migration to the re- 
moter states and the Pacific slope there is no need to speak. 
" Westward the star of empire takes its way," says Bancroft, 
and the Rhode Islander seems ever to have had his eye upon 
that luminary. 



The emigration to Nova Scotia. 



But when did a colony turn eastward to Nova Scotia ? 
Ah yes ! They must have been a group of Tories, paying 
by exile and loss of estates the penalty for adherence to King 
George in the terrible days of the Revolution. Some such 
there were from the southern counties of the state, it is true 
but I cannot learn that they united in any settlement in Nova 
Scotia, 

No ! The colony of which I speak left the parent stock 
when all were alike loyal to the sovereign of Great Britain, - 
indeed at just the juncture when it was the proudest boast of 
every New Englander that he was a British subject. For 
there were almost then sounding on the air the cannon which 
announced the fall of the fleur-de-lis over all America and 
the universal rule upon this western land of English law and 
Saxon civilization. These colonists went out not by compul- 
sion but by free choice, and indeed upon an urgent invitation. 
Their aim was simply to open new homes, as had their fathers, 
in a new land and on richer soil. 

One of the saddest episodes in the long struggle for su- 
premacy between the French and the English on this conti- 
nent was the expatriation of the Acadians. Longfellow in 
his Evangeline has told us, with a poet's license, all the mel- 
ancholy story, - and even more. Our historical reading has, 
no doubt, explained the sad necessity of the step as a military 
precaution, but the pictures limned by the poet grow even 
brighter as our eyes rest upon the scenes described. 

' This is the forest primeval. The murmuring pines and 

the hemlocks, 
Bearded with moss, and in garments green, indistinct in 

the twilight, 
Stand like the Druids of eld, with voices sad and prophetic, 
Stand like harpers hoar, with beards that rest on their 

bosoms. 



The emigration to Nova Scotia. 



Loud from his rocky caverns, the deep voiced neighboring 

ocean, 
Speaks, and in accents disconsolate answers the wails of 

the forest. 

«1£. <&£. -Jf, Ji. -Ji. Ji. Jf. *U- 

•9F -TV* TV* TV" *SV" TV" TV* tF 

In the Acadian land, on the shores of the Basin of Minas, 
Distant, secluded, still, the little village of Grand-Pre 
Lay in the fruitful valley. Vast meadows stretched to the 

eastward, 
Giving the village its name, and pasture to flocks without 

number. 
Dikes, that the hands of the farmers had raised with labors 

incessant, 
Shut out the turbulent tides ; but at stated seasons the 

flood-gates 
Opened, and welcomed the sea to wander at will o'er the 

meadows. 
West and south there were fields of flax, and orchards and 

cornfields 
Spreading afar and unfenced o'er the plain; and away to 

the northward 
Blomidon rose, and the forests old ; and aloft on the moun- 
tains 
Sea fogs pitched their tents, and mists from the mighty 

Atlantic 
Looked on the happy valley, but ne'er from their station 

descended." 

Such pictures as these it was that attracted to Acadia, with- 
in five years after the expulsion of the French inhabitants, 
the nucleus of the colony from Rhode Island, of which this 
paper treats. 



The emigration to Nova Scotia. 



The country comprising the Maritime Provinces was in 
the hands of the French and the English by turns until the 
year 1713, when by the Peace of Utrecht Acadia was ceded 
by France to Great Britain, in whose possession it has ever 
since remained. For many years later, however, the only Eng- 
lish in the district were the troops at the various posts scat- 
tered over the country and a few civilians connected with the 
government, and with the supply of the army. The inhabi- 
tants of Nova Scotia were chiefly French farmers and fisher- 
men, living mainly about the Minas Basin and on the Anna- 
polis River. Over these the English government maintained 
but a feeble control. In 1749 the English themselves laid 
the foundation for a settlement on the beautiful and capacious 
harbor of Chebucto and named it Halifax. A jealousy soon 
sprang up between these English settlers and their French 
neighbors, the nearest of whom were at Pisiquid, now Wind- 
sor, some forty-five miles away. Soon war was renewed be- 
tween the English and the French Governments, during Avhich 
both the Acadian settlers and the Indians in Nova Scotia, 
though professedly neutral, were found in ardent sympathy 
with the enemy. Blood and religion were stronger than po- 
litical relations. The Acadians repeatedly refused to take the 
oath of allegiance to the British Crown, except one so modi- 
fied as to exclude service against the French. Moreover, the 
restless young spirits among them, either openly or in disguise, 
were found engaged with the Canadians and Indians in forays 
against the English. The English Governor, Charles Lawren- 
ce, clearly saw that the Acadian settlements on the Annapolis 
and the Basin of Minas offered a constant rendezvous for 
attack upon the feeble settlement of Halifax, and determined 
upon the forcible removal of the French to the southern col- 
onies, with such dispersion of them as would effectually pre- 
vent their concerted return. To accomplish this required 



The emigration to Nova Scotia. 



liasty and secret preparations. No word was sent even to 
the Home Government though the two Admirals on the sta- 
tion were consulted. Seizing an opportune moment when a 
New England force under Lieut. Col. John Winslow was at 
hand, brought thither for the capture of the French forts at 
the head of the Bay of Fundy, Governor Lawrence instructed 
his officers to collect the Acadians in the whole region , pre- 
vent any from escaping and put all on board transports which 
would be provided. Families were to be kept together as 
far as possible. The work was done by Winslow at Grand- 
Pre and that neighborhood, and by Capt. Murray at Pisiquid. 
The blow fell early in September 1755, and was made by the 
New England troops as light as their orders permitted. After 
a little waiting, in order to bring in the men who had fled to 
the woods, the vessels sailed bearing three thousand souls 
from home and native land to various points along the coast 
in what is now the United States. To preclude a return the 
houses about Grand-Pre, certainly, were burned, bnt elsewhere 
the work seems to have been less complete. 

The government at Halifax had now its will. The mass 
of the Acadian settlers had been driven from their homes, the 
houses and barns had been fired, and the stock slaughtered 
or left to become wild. The scattered remnant of the farmers 
and fishermen were hiding in the woods, or had hurried to 
the Indian camps, or else had taken refuge with the French 
upon the St. Lawrence. The rich dike lands lay without 
care, the orchards were of no use to man, the uplands bore 
no crops. Some of the fairest spots Nature had planted upon 
the Atlantic, rendered fairer by the improvements of man 
for more than a century, were now relapsing to wilderness 
because of neglect. Settlers, therefore, were earnestly looked 
for, - settlers Avhose allegiance should be undoubted, and 



8 The emigration to Nova Scotia. 



whose right arms might ever he ready for service in the wars 
of Britain. 

The Home Government desired that the vacant lands 
should he distributed among- disbanded soldiers, but Govern- 
or Lawrence strenuously opposed this. A soldier himself, 
he maintained that no class of persons was by previous train- 
ing so unfitted to become the founders of a new country as 
soldiers. Every soldier who had come to Halifax, he added 
from his personal observation, had either returned to Eng- 
land or become a dramseller. The new settlers must be men 
of a different type. 

To this sensible remonstrance the Lords of Trade acceded. 
Governor Lawrence was left free to pursue his own plans for 
the peopling of the despoiled farms. With excellent judge- 
ment the Governor turned for help to the stout-hearted colo- 
nists at the southwest, by whose valor and perseverance so 
much of the work of winning new France for the British 
Crown had been accomplished. A proclamation was adopted 
in Council Oct. 12, 1758, relating to the settlement of the 
vacated French lands. Printed descriptions were circulated 
in which the advantages of the soil were highly rjraised. 

The Governor announced that he was ready to receive 
proposals for the settlement of this region, containing " one 
hundred thousand acres of intervale plow lands, producing 
wheat, rye, barley, oats, hemp, flax, etc., which have* been 
cultivated for than a hundred years past and never fail 
of crops nor need manuring. Also more than one hundred 
thousand acres of upland, cleared and stocked with English 
grass, planted with orchards, gardens etc. These lands with 
good husbandry produce often two loads of hay to the acre. 
The wild and unimproved lands adjoining to the above are 
well timbered and wooded with beech, black birch, ash, oak, 



The emigration to Nova Scotia. 



pine, fir etc. All these lands are so intermixed that every 
single farmer may have a proportionate quantity of plow land 
grass land and wood land, and all are situated about the Bay 
of Fundi upon rivers navigable for ships of burthen." 

Throughout New England, and especially south-eastern 
New England, this flattering proclamation excited great in- 
terest. There were enough old soldiers of the French Wars, 
who had seen service at Louisburg and Fort Cumberland, or 
had been the agents in expelling the Acadian farmers, to 
confirm by word of mouth the accuracy of the statements 
made in the proclamation. Consequently the Nova Scotian 
agent at Boston, Thomas Hancock, ( the uncle of John Han- 
cock of Revolutionary fame ), then the richest and most in- 
fluential merchant of the town, soon had several propositions 
to submit to Governor Lawrence. There were numerous set- 
tlers ready to come, but as the proclamation had been silent 
on all points except the quality of the land, his Excellency 
was required to state in explicit terms, the nature of the con- 
stitution, the protection to be afforded to the civil and relip- 
ious liberties of the subject, and the extent of the elective 
franchise of the people. There had been too much of stern 
conflict upon these points by the people of New England for 
such considerations to be ignored. 

Their answer was soon ready for them. Jan. 11, 1759, 
Governor Lawrence sent forth from the Council Chamber at 
Halifax, a second proclamation, - a most important state pa- 
per, which, as it contains the solemn assurance of the Gov- 
ernment on the points named above, has been not inaptly 
styled, says Judge Haliburton, the Charter of Nova Scotia. 
It is worth quoting in full. 



10 The emigration to Nova Scotia. 



" By his Excellency Charles Lawrence, Esq., Captain Gen- 
eral and Governor-in-chief, in and over his Majesty's Prov- 
ince of Nova Scotia, or Acadia, in America, Vice Admiral 
of the same, etc., etc. 

" Whereas since the issuing- of the proclamation dated the 
12th., day of Oct. 1758, relative to settling the vacant lands 
in this Province, I have been informed by Thomas Hancock, 
Est}., Agent for the affairs of Nova Scotia, at Boston, that 
sundry applications have been made to him in consequence 
thereof, by persons who are desirous of settling the said 
lands, and of knowing what particular encouragement the 
Government will give them, whether any allowance of provi- 
sions will be given at their first settlement, what quantity of 
land will be given to each person, what quit rents they are 
to pay, what the constitution of the Government is, whether 
any, and what taxes are to be paid, and whether they will be 
allowed the free exercise of their religion ? I have therefore 
thought fit, with the advice of his Majesty's Council, to issue 
this proclamation, hereby declaiing, in answer to the said 
enquiries, that by his Majesty's Royal instructions, I am 
empowered to make grants on the following proportions: 

That townships are to consist of one hundred thousand 
acres of land, that they do include the best and most profit- 
able land, and also that they do comprehend such rivers as 
may be at or near such settlement and to extend as far up 
into the Country as conveniently may be, taking in a necessary 
part of the sea-coast. That the quantities of land granted 
will be in proportion to the abilities of the planter to settle, 
cultivate, and enclose the same. That one hundred acres of 
wild wood land will be allowed to every person, being master 
or mistress of ;i family, for himself or herself, and fifty acres 
for every white or black man, woman, or child, of which such 



The emigration to Nova Scotia. 11 



person's family shall consist at the actual time of making" the 

*■ ■ ml O 

grant, subject to the payment of a quit rent of one shilling- 
sterling per annum for every fifty acres; such quit rent to 
commence at the expiration of ten years from the date of each 
grant, and to be paid for his Majesty's use to his Receiver 
General, at Halifax, or to his Deputy on the spot. 

" That the grantees will be obliged by their said grants to 
plant, cultivate, improve, or enclose, one third part of then- 
lands within the space of ten years, another third part within 
the space of twenty years and the remaining third part within 
the space of thirty years, from the date of their grants. That 
no one person can possess more than one thousand acres by 
grant, on his or their own name. 

" That every grantee, upon giving proof that he or she has 
fulfilled the terms and conditions of his or her grants, shall 
be entitled to another grant in the proportion and upon the 
conditions above mentioned. That the Government of Nova 
Scotia is constituted like those of the neighbouring Colonies; 
the Legislature consisting of a Governor, Council, and House 
of Assembly, and every township, as soon as it shall consist 
of fifty families, will be entitled to send two Representatives 
to the General Assembly. The Courts of Justice are also 
constituted in like manner with those of the Massachusetts, 
Connecticut, and other Northern Colonies. That as to the 
article of religion full liberty of conscience, both of his Ma- 
jesty's royal instructions and a late act of the General Assem" 
ly of this Province, is secured to persons of all persuasions, 
Papists excepted, as may more fully appear by the following- 
abstract of the said act, viz : — 

' Protestants dissenting from the Church of England, 
whether they be Calvinists, Lutherans, Quakers, or under 



12 The emigration to Nova Scotia. 



what denomination soever, shall have free liberty of conscience^ 
and may erect and build Meeting- Houses for public worship, 
and may choose and elect Ministers for the carrying- on divine 
service, and administration of the sacrament, according to 
their several opinions, and all contracts made between their 
Ministers and congregations for the support of their Ministry, 
are hereby declared valid, and shall have their full force and 
effect according to the tenor and conditions thereof, and all 
such Dissenters shall be excused from any rates or taxes to be 
made or levied for the support of the Established Church of 
England.' 

" That no taxes have hitherto been laid upon his Majesty's 
subjects within this Province, nor are there any fees of office 
taken upon issuing the grants of land. 

" That I am not authorized to issue any bounty of provis- 
ions ; and I do hereby declare that I am ready to lay out the 
lands and make grants immediately under the conditions 
above described, and to receive and transmit to the Lords 
Commissioners for Trade and Plantations, in order that the 
same may be laid [before his Majesty for approbation, such 
further proposals as may be offered by any body of people, 
for settling an entire township under other conditions that 
they may conceive more advantages to the undertakeis. 

" That forts are established in the neighborhood of the 
lands proposed to be settled, and are garrisoned by his Majes- 
ty's troops, with a view of giving all manner of aid and pro- 
tection to the settlers, if hereafter there should be need. 

Given in the Council Chamber at Halifax, this 11th., day 
of January, 1759, in the 32nd - year of His Majesty's reign. 
( Signed. ) CHARLES LAWRENCE. " 



The emigration to Nova Scotia. 13 



The significance of this document in one respect must have 
struck the attention of all who are Rhode Islanders in spirit ; 
I refer to its lofty sentiments with regard to liberty of con- 
science. The inhabitants of Nova Scotia in succeeding pe- 
riods have had reason to be grateful to these colonists of 
1760 for having elicited such satisfactory pledges from the 
royal government that no abridgement of their religious priv- 
iliges should be suffered in consequence of their removal. 
And Governor Lawrence himself builded better than he knew 
when he gave his sanction to measures so liberal. The single 
exception to complete religious toleration, - in the case cf 
the Roman Catholics, — was never, so far as I can learn, made 
practically grievous to any individuals. Certainly there have 
always been French Catholics within the province and con- 
siderable emigrations of Scotch and Irish Catholics have at 
times been encouraged. The spirit of the community has 
been tuned to a key even higher than the letter of their an- 
cient law. 

The proclamation of Governor Lawrence was favorably 
received in New England, and led to active steps toward 
emigration. In April, 1759, agents from a number of per- 
sons in Connecticut and Rhode Island who designed to be- 
come settlers on the Bay of Fundy came to Halifax. They 
were Major Robert Dennison and Messrs. Jonathan Harris, 
Joseph Otis and James Fuller from Connecticut, and Mr. 
John Hicks from Rhode Island. A Council was held at the 
house of Governor Lawrence at which these gentlemen were 
in attendance. They put several questions to the board re- 
specting the terms of the proposed grants, and received very 
encouraging answers. 

As they were the first applicants they were promised some 
aid from government for the poorer families. The vessels 



14 The emigration to Nova Scotia. 



l)eloi)oino- to the Province were to be at the service of the 
settlers to bring; them with their stock and furniture to Nova 
Scotia. Arms were to be supplied for a small number and 
protection by block houses and garrisons. Furthermore the 
government expressly engaged that the settlers should not be 
subjected to inpressment. 

The agents were highly pleased with the results of the con- 
ference and desired to be shown the lands upon which settle- 
ment was proposed. They were sent to the Basin of Minas on 
the armed scow Halifax, attended by Charles Morris, a mem- 
ber of the Council and Chief Land Surveyor of the Province. 
An officer of artillery with eight soldiers served as guard for 
the party. 

In May the agents returned to Halifax, after having viewed 
the vaeant lands from which the French farmers had so rude- 
ly been torn. So well satisfied were they with their inspect- 
ion that immediate arrangements were made to secure the 
grants of land. The four gentlemen from Connecticut who rep- 
resented 330 signers to an agreement for settlement, proposed 
to take up a township adjoining the river Gaspereaux inclu- 
ding the great marshes, the Grand Pre of Longfellow's story, 
and constituting the present township of Horton. This town- 
ship of 100.000 acres was to be given in fee simple, subject 
to the proposed quit-rent, to 200 families. Block-houses were 
were to be built and garrisoned for their defence. Fifty 
families of the number were to have from government an al- 
lowance of one bushel of corn to each person per month or 
an equivalent in other grain. This was to continue for one 
year. These families were also furnished arms and ammuni- 
tion for defence. All the people with their movables, stock, 
etc., were to be transported at the expense of the govern- 
ment. 



The emigration to Nova Lcotia. 15 



There was also made an agreement for 150 families to set- 
tle 100.000 acres on the river Canard to the westward upon 
the same terms. This township was named Cornwallis. For- 
mal grants of Horton and Cornwallis passed the seal of the 
Province on May 21. 1759. 

At the same time Mr. John Hicks from Rhode Island, and 
a Mr. Amos Fuller ( possibly the James Fuller of Connecticut 
named above, though Murdoch gives the name Amos ) de- 
sired the Governor and Council to reserve land for them and 
their constituents at Pisiquid on the north side of the river. 
( So says Murdoch. The settlement was made upon the west 
side also. ) They engaged to settle fifty families in 1759 and 
fifty more in 1760 on the same terms as were accorded to 
Horton and Cornwallis. This was agreed to, and July 21, 
1759 a formal grant was made of 50.000 acres between the 
river Pisiquid and the town of Horton. Of this tract a long- 
range of mountains forms the rear, a gradually sloping upland 
the centre, and a border of marsh the front. To this township 
the name Falmouth was given, and here was the home of a 
part of the first settlers from Rhode Island. 

That summer of 1759 was not a season of entire peace in 
Nova Scotia. During this very month of July a party of 
French and Indians, about a hundred in number, appeared 
before Fort Edward at Pisiquid and continued there some 
days, but departed without an engagement. The same month 
a party of committee men inspecting lands near Cape Sable 
was fired upon by the same or a similar band of foes. Three 
fishing vessels were captured off Canso by the Acadian French. 
Even across the harbor from Halifax and within sight of the 
citadel, two persons had been murdered, while numbers of 
the enemy had been seen lurking about Lunenburg and Fort 
Sackville. In view of these facts the Government postponed 



The emigration to Nova Scotia. 



•&» .lew settlements along the Basin of Minas to the following 
cprk.g. Bnt additional settlements, chiefly by men from 
Massachusetts, were projected at Chignecto and Cohequid in 
the north, and at Granville and Annapolis in the south of the 
province. 

The succeeding autumn brought to Governor Lawrence and 
to New England the joyful tidings of the fall of Quebec, 
though their joy was shadowed by the death of the gallant 
Wolfe at the very moment of victory. The French were not 
yet wholly vanquished, it is true, but had retired upon Mont- 
real. Yet their influence along the lower St. Lawrence and 
in the Maritime Provinces was nearly gone. Within eighteen 
months thereafter, there was concluded at Halifax a solemn 
treaty of peace with the leading chiefs of the Micmacs, by 
which they transferred their allegiance from France to Eng- 
land, and ceased to be an annoyance to the province. 

The first settlers from Rhode Island arrived in the spring 
of 1760. Haliburton says there arrived from Rhode Island 
four schooners carrying one hundred settlers. I am inclined 
to think, however, that the earliest to arrive were the persons 
referred to in the following document. 

" List of Settlers brought from Newport Rhode Island to 
Falmouth Nov. in the Sloop Sally. Jona. Lovatt, Master, in 
May, 1760. 







' Persons 








Benjamin Sanford & 


family 


7 


£ 8, 


15, 





Nathaniel Reynolds, 


do. 


4 


5, 


o, 





Samuel Bentley, 


do. 


2 


2, 


10, 





James Hervie, 


do. 


5 


6. 


5, 





James Smith, 


do. 


6 


7, 


10, 





John Chambers^ 


do. 


1 


1, 


5, 





James Weec: 


do. 


6 


7, 


10, 






The emigration to Nova Scotia. 17 



Joshua Sanford, do. 3 3, 15, 

John Hervie, do. 1 1, 5, 

In the whole 35 persons 

35 persons at £1, 5, 0., each is £43, 15, 0. 

These are to Certify that the above is a true and perfect 
list of the settlers brought to the township of Falmouth in 
the Sloop Sally and of the numbers of tneir families as ap- 
pears by the of the several persons therein named. 

( No signature. ) 

List of settlers brought from Newport in Rhode Island to 
Falmouth in the Sloop Lydia, Saml Toby Master, in May, 
176). 

Benjamin Burdin & family 3 persons. 

Caleb Lake do 7 " 

Henry Tucker do. 3 " 

Jams Mosher do. 8 " 

23 persons at £1, 5, each is .£28, 15, " 

( The above copy was kindly made for me by Thomas B. 
A kins Esq., of Halifax. ) 

This document is in the handwriting of Isaac Deschamps, 
then Government Agent and Magistrate at Fort Edward, 
across the river from the Rhode Island settlements. He was 
ever a firm friend of the Rhode Islanders and often represent- 
ed them in the Provincial Assembly. Subsequently he rose 
to the dignity of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the 
Province. The paper is evidently a memorandum of the bills 
presented by the masters of the vessels for services in trans- 
porting the immigrants. An extended search has thus far 
failed to bring to light other similar lists, which must have 
existed. 4 



18 The emigration to Nova Scotia. 



The names, except that of Chambers, will readily be recog- 
nized as comnrm family names in the Island towns of onr 
state and the mainland towns near by. Indeed the same is 
true of a large proportion of the names of persons to whom 
lots Avere granted in the townships of Falmouth and Newport. 
Lists of these are subjoined in an appendix. They purport 
to have been made in the first year of settlement, but un- 
doubtedly contain nanus added subsequently as new settlers 
arrived. 

On arrival the Rhode Island men separated into two settle- 
ments, one on the north side of the Pisiquid and St. Croix, 
and the other on the west side of the former river. For a 
year both settlements were called Falmouth, one being termed 
East Falmouth, and the other West Falmouth. First let us 
follow the fortunes of the latter, which finally had the origi- 
nal name all to itself. 

The first proprietors' meeting was held June 10, 1760. The 
location is stlyed " Falmouth on the west side of the Pisiquid 
river." The chairman was Shubael Dimock, a Baptist from 
Mansfield, Connecticut, who, finding himself uncomfortable 
at home by reason of his religious belief, had joined the 
Rhode Islanders. ( He afterwards went to reside at Newport, 
N. S., where he died in 1781 at the age of 73.) The clerk was 
Abner Hall. Three committee-men were chosen to manage 
affairs : Wignal Cole, Abner Hall, and David Randall. At the 
outset 200 acres were laid out for a common, 60 acres for a 
town, ( i. e. a village ), and a eertain tract for a public ceme- 
tery. Each man had a hall-acre town lot, a six-acre lot, a 
ten-acre marsh lot, a farm lot, and two wood lots. One of 
these was from 100 to 200 acres in size quite accessible, the 
other contained about 400 acres back on Horton Mountain. 



The emigration to Nova Scotia. 19 



The settlement grew steadily although not with the rapidity 
of the more open and level towns of Horton and Cornwallis. 
In the early autumn after their arrival, the settlers learned 
of the capitulation of the French forces at Montreal, by which 
all prospect of further war was prevented. It was late in the 
season, however, when the farmers had come, and the crops 
for the first year were scanty. Yet by the opening of winter, 
the President of the Council could write to the Board of 
Trade at London thus : 

" I have the satisfaction to acquaint your Lordships that 
the townships of Horton, Cornwallis, and Falmouth are 
so well established that everything bears a hopeful appearance; 
as soon p,s these townships were laid out by the Surveyor, 
palesaded ( sic ) forts were erected in each of them by order 
of the late Governor with room to secure all the inhabitants, 
who were formed into a militia to join what troops could be 
spared to oppose any attempts that might be formed against 
them by Indian tribes, which had not then surrendered, and 
bodies of French inhabitants who were hovering about the 
country. After the necessary business, the proper season 
coming on they were employed in gathering hay for the win- 
ter. One thousand tons were provided for Horton, five hun- 
dred for Cornwallis, and six hundred for Falmouth, and about 
this time they put some corn and roots into the ground, and 
began to build their houses." 

( Charles Lawrence, by whose wisdom and kind services the 
New Englanders had been induced to come to Nova Scotia, 
had died suddenly in October, 1760, before he had seen the 
full fruition of his generous plans. ) 

In Falmouth the upland was in very good condition for 
planting and was much more extensive than the marsh. The 
dike-lands were at this time in very poor condition. In 1755 



20 The emigration to Nova Scotia. 



the dikes had been cut in some places to discourage the return 
of the Acadiaiis, but the most serious harm had been done 
by an extraordinary storm in November 1759, which had 
made breaches in nearly all the dikes, and overflowed the 
drained marshes with salt tides live feet higher than were ever 
seen there before. Governor Lawrence had begun repairs 
before his death, and the work was continued by his successor- 
Subsequently vastly larger areas were reclaimed by the Eng- 
lish than the French had ever tried to drain. 

Fortunately we have the means of looking upon the physical 
features of Falmouth with much the same vision as that (>£ 
the early settlers. Under date of Jan. 9, 17(52, Charles 
Morris, the Chief Surveyor previously mentioned, made to 
the Government an extended report upon the condition of the 
various townships of the province. Here is what he say s 
about Falmouth. ( Mss. in Province Library at Halifax. ) 

" This township was granted to one hundred proprietors, 
of which eighty families are at present settled, containing 
350 persons. The settlement was begun in 1700. Several 
other grants of the lands adjoining have been granted and 
added to this township, so that the whole will consist of one 
hundred and fifty proprietors or shaies This township con- 
tains about 2500 acres of marsh land. [Judge Haliburton 
says 1184 acres of diked marsh in 1828. ] and 3,003 acres 
of cleared upland, the proprietors having divided the cleared 
land and improvable land into lots. It amounts to about 
eighty acres to each share. The other parts of the township 
being the termination of two long ranges of mountains is 
broken mountain and steep precipices and mostly unimprova- 
ble lands. These inhabitants have imported large quantities 
of cattle and have this year cut hay sufficient for supporting- 
them, but the excessive drought of the summer has blasted 



The emigration to Nova Scotia. 21 



most of their corn. The river Pisiquid running through this 
town is navigable for sloops to all the settlements, there being- 
three fathom at high water for six miles. The town is situa- 
ted in the centre of the settlements. The woods having 
suffered at the same time as Horton, the growth of timber is 
small, of the same kind as Horton." 

In another place he explains this last allusion as follows: 

" In Horton the natural growth is spruce, fir, white birch, 
poplar and white pine. The growth of timber is small, the 
woods having been levelled by fire about fifty years since." 

The river Pisiquid, now called the Avon, as it flows out 
between Falmouth and Windsor, receives the St. Croix. By 
the union is formed a broad basin some two miles wide, across 
which at low tide men have been known to wade, but which 
at high tide contains from fifty to sixty feet of reddish muddy 
water, having during the flood a current inward strong enough 
to bear " three-masters " up stream. To the northward of 
this basin a part of the Rhode Island men had chosen their 
farms including the thirteen families who came in the sloops 
Sally and Lydia. Their first landing place, now called 
Avon dale, is a flourishing ship-building village, abounding in 
Rhode Island names. As we have said, the settlement was 
first called East Falmouth, but in 1761 it received with the 
formal grant of the township, a new name, Newport, which 
it still retains. The tradition prevails that this name was 
given in honor of the old home of the settlers in Rhode Island, 
but this explanation, though so natural, is certainly incorrect, 
as is shown by the following letter. 

( For a copy of this letter, I am indebted to David Allison, 
LL. D. Superintendent of Education for Nova Scotia, a na- 
tive of Newport, from whom numerous courtesies have been 
received. ) 



22 The emigration to Nova Scotia. 



Halifax, March 31, 1761. 
Sir: 

Capt. Maloney, upon the application of the 
Inhabitants of Horton and Cornwallis, is to return to New 
London to take in provisions, but half his lading. He is then 
to proceed to Newport to take in provision for East and West 
Falmouth. He has orders to take Dr. Ellis and family and 
effects and one Mr. Mather, [ this name is somewhat uncer- 
tain ] , if they are ready. 

The Inhabitants of East Falmouth have petitioned to be 
set off as a distinct town and it has been mentioned in Coun- 
cil, I) lit nothing- conclusive done. There is an objection be- 
cause of the fewness of proprietors, but it: they will consent 
to have an addition of 20 rights, a sufficient quantity of land 
being added to« that end, I believe they may obtain it. I have 
proposed to have it named Newport, from my Lord Newport, 
a friend of Mr. Belcher's, and which I believe will be agree- 
able to the people if the}r think it will be of advantage to 
them. I think the addition of 20 shares will be no disad- 
vantage, as they have land equivalent. You can inform 
yourself of their opinion on this head. 

I shall endeavor to send the iron by the vessel bringing 
the provision. 

I am obliged to you for the assistance you gave my son 
among the inhabitants. 

It will not be long before you will be here and then I will 
fully inform you of the other affairs, till when I ran, in haste, 
Si)', your most obt servant, 

C. Morris, 

( Surveyor General ) 
To Isaac Deschamps, Esq. 
Fort Edward. 



The emigration to Nova Scotia. 23 



This same gentleman in the report of Jan. 9, 1762, pre- 
viously mentioned, gives a description of the 58,000 acres to 
which the name Newport was affixed: 

" This township, granted to seventy proprietors, began its 
settlement in 1761. ( He must refer to the grant of 1761. 
The settlement began previous to June 1760. ) The present 
number of families is sixty, containing about 240 persons. 
They imported a sufficient number of neat cattle and have 
this summer cut hay sufficient for them. They have also 
raised a considerable quantity of English grain, but not 
enough to subsist them, being cut short by the drought. 
Thoy have but little improved land in proportion to the other 
townships. It contains about 1,000 acres of marsh land and 
600 acres of cleared lands. This township contains in pro- 
portion to its bigness a greater quantity of improvable lands 
than any of the fore-mentioned townships. The soil in gen- 
eral is rich and great part free from stones ; it is heavy tim- 
bered, not having suffered by fire, as the others neighboring. 
Its natural growth is fir, pine, spruce, oak, beach, ( sic ) birch, 
etc. The river Conetcook runs through the middle of this 
township, navigable for sloops at high water for ten miles, 
and on the southern end the river St. Croix, navigable for 
four miles." 

The names of the grantees of Newport are given in the 
appendix. Among them are a dozen or more which are 
plainly not of Rhode Island origin. It will be remembered 
that Mr. Morris spoke in his letter of " an addition of 20 
rights " to the original settlement. The great mass of the 
names, however, are the same as are well known now in the 
southern counties of our state. Perhaps the most interesting 
single name is that of " William Hallyburton," for he was 
the great-grandfather of Judge Thomas C. Haliburton, the 



24 The emigration to Nova Scotia. 



distinguished Nova Scotian historian and humorist, hetter 
known as " Sam Slick." 

[ Since it is not generally known that this family is of 
Rhode Island origin, let me here insert a copy of a certificate 
now existing in Newport, R. L, which is conclusive on this 
point. 

" Newport, Rhode Island, | 
September 15th, 1762. j 
This may Certify all it may Concern that I the Subscrib- 
er did sometime in the Fall of the year 1760 draw a memo- 
randum ( for Mrs. Sarah Wright late deceased ) of several 
Bequests, &c, which she was minded to make, But any of 
the Particulars I do not really Remember. 

William Hally burton. 
I further add, the said Memorandum was drawn at the Re- 
quest and Desire of the said Sarah Wright. 

Newport | Newport, 

to wit. j Sept. 15th day, A. D. 1762. 

Personally appeared the above-named William 
Hallyburton and made Solemn Oath to tbe Truth of the above 
said Evidence and Signed the same. 

Taken and Sworn to the Day and Date above said. 

Before me, John Davis Jr., 

Justice of the Peace." 
It is interesting in this connection to note that among 
those who removed to Halifax from Newport, R. I., at the 
close of the Revolution, was a Dr. John Halibnrton, father 
of the late Sir Brenton Halibnrton, Chief Justice of Nova 
Scotia at his death in 1865. i 

The records of NeAvport, still extant, show the same pro- 
cedure in general as on the other side of the river. The pro- 
prietors held their first meeting on June 9, 1760, one day 



The emigration to Nova Scotia. 25 



earlier than at Falmouth proper. James Weeden was chosen 
moderator and Zerobabel Waistcoat clerk. Captain Edward 
York, Joseph Baley and Benjamin Sanford were chosen a 
committee to regulate affairs. A month later they ran out 
" town lots," providing for a compact village at what is now 
Avondale. Subsequently other villages have sprung up, but 
none of large size. The neighboring town of Windsor, 
clustering about Fort Edward, became the business centre 
for Newport and Falmouth, as well as for its own township. 
The settlers at Newport, as also at Falmouth, made provision 
for a school, and for religion, in their division of lands. 
Each proprietor appears to have had by allotment some 500 
acres, partly marsh, partly upland, and largely woodland, be- 
sides six acres in the proposed " town." Much of this land, 
however, was not improved for many years. 

The township has had a quiet and peaceful development 
as a farming region, with some ship building and some quar- 
rying of " plaster." Being the nearest fertile district to 
Halifax, it has always had a ready market for such products 
as were needed by a garrison town, especially for horses and 
hay. The marsh lands are apparently of inexhaustible fer- 
tility and the uplands of good quality. To the settlers of 
Ehode Island origin have been added numerous others of 
English, Scotch, and Scotch-Irish descent, all a worthy stock 
for the upbuilding of a new country. The names of Mosher, 
Simpson, Smith, Sanford, and Knowles are still common and 
prominent. The faces to be seen on the hillsides are the ex- 
act counterparts of those in our own rural districts. Indeed 
in riding over the pleasant hills of both Newport and Fal- 
mouth, everything reminded me of certain parts of my native 
state, except the beds of the rivers. For here we have noth- 
ing like the Avon, the ancient Pisiquid, at low tide, a broad 
4 



26 The emigration to Nova Scotia. 



slimy chasm, forty to fifty feet deep, lined everywhere with a 
reddish ooze. It was when gazing on this spectacle from 
Windsor, that Charles Dudley Warner declared that he never 
understood before how much water added to a river. 

There is still a third township en the Pay of Fundy 
which had its origin in a colony from Rhode Island, but of 
this 1 cannot speak at length. It is the town of Sackville in 
New Brunswick, lying on a part of the famous Tantemar 
marshes, " the granary of Nova Scotia." Some twenty five 
families had settled there in the summer of 1761 and the 
other grantees were expected by Mr Morris to arrive in the 
spring of 1762, as many of them had been down the previous 
year to build houses in preparation for their families. There 
is at Halifax in the Province Libary a " List of the Sub- 
scribers for the Township lying on the Tantemar River, 
Represented by Benjamin Thurber, Cyprian Sterry, and 
Edmund Jenckes from Providence in Rhodisland," which 
list is given in the appendix. The 154 names upon it are 
nearly all common in the northern towns of Rhode Island. 
Probably most of them represent actual settlers, who were at 
Sackville for a time, if not permanently. For the settlement 
at this point had a somewhat different history from those of 
which Ave have spoken. There was, for instance, a whole 
Baptist Church in Swansea, Massachusetts, that emigrated 
bodily, under the leadership of the pastor, Nathan Mason, to 
Sackville in 1763 and after a residence there of eight years 
returned to its former abode. Moreover, when the War for 
Independence broke out, many of the settlers at Sackville and 
Cumberland sympathized so strongly with their brethren in 
the revolting colonies, that they joined the patriots in arms, 
and in consequence lost their homes, as the Province re- 
mained loyal to King George. Yet, I am told, the majority 



The emigration to Nova Scotia. 27 



of the population of the township today is of New England 
ancestry. As I rode through Sackville upon the train, I 
got a glimse of Mt. Allison University, and Mt. Allison 
Ladies' College, institutions for higher education, which give 
some hint of the prosperity of the township and of the type 
of character prevailing among its residents. Rhode Island 
has no reason to be ashamed of her representatives at the 
head of the Bay of Funcly. 

Of individual reminiscences relating to the period of the 
immigration of 1760, little can now he obtained. Not many 
of that first generation became prominent above their fellows 
in matters that have interest for succeeding generations. 
There was, indeed, but one of the Rhode Island settlers whom 
I should care to follow personally in this paper, and in that 
one I hope to find you sharing a hearty interest. 

His name was Henry Alline. ( As to spelling, the name is 
variously written Alline, Allin, and Allen. ) Although he 
died of consumption at the early age of 36 years, he had 
meantime revolutionized the religious condition of his adopted 
land and had cleared the way for men of a different type to 
build strong and sure. Indeed his services had earned for 
him the title of the Whitefield of Nova Scotia. 

Henry Alline was born in Newport, R. I., June 14, 1748. 
His father and mother, William and Rebecca Alline, appear 
not to have been of the Rhode Island family of similar name, 
but by their son are said to have been born and brought up 
in Boston, where he had numerous relatives. The boy Henry 
was but twelve years old on that summer in 1760 when with 
his father's family he clambered over the sloop's side and 
landed in the red mud of the Pisiquid at Falmouth. In his 
journal, marvellously constructed in a short-hand that is well 



28 The emigration to Nova Scotia. 



nigh a cipher, he has told us how his boyish fears were stirred 
by the frequent rumors that the Indians were about rising, 
and by the occasional coining of theMicmacs themselves, with 
their faces made hideous by war paint, to declare that the 
English should not settle in their country. 

At an early age he became the subject of very strong re- 
ligious impressions. Fear of death and the judgement con- 
stantly haunted him. Yet for twenty years he lived a misera- 
ble life under the terrors of the law and the lash of an accus- 
ing conscience, but stubborn and unyielding. In his twenty- 
seventh year for the first time he obtained light and learned 
to hope in Christ. Through the prayerful study of the bible, 
and the reading of religious books, he then obtained more 
correct views of his own character, and the disposition of God 
to save repentant sinners. When finally enabled to rest firm- 
ly upon the atonement of Jesus Christ, his joy in the posses- 
sion of pardon became as intense as bis depression under a 
sense of guilt had previously been. " Oh! the astonishing won- 
ders of His grace," lie exclaimed, " and the ocean of redeem- 
ing love. Millions and millions of praise to His name ! And 
oh ! the unspeakable wisdom and beauty of the glorious plan 
of life and salvation." The emotional type of his religious 
life, so evident in these quotations, was never changed. It 
was the key at once to the extent and the character of his 
whole work. 

At this time he attempted to take passage for New Eng- 
land in order to secure the education necessary to enable him 
to preach the gospel. It was, however, at the outbreak of 
the Revolution, and communication was not easy. He re- 
turned to Falmouth and soon commenced to address his 
friends and neighbors. For three years he preached almost 
daily, confining his meetings to the neighboring townships, 



The emigration to Nova Scotia. 29 



and meeting' with much hardship and opposition. In 1779 
he was regularly ordained, and thereafter roamed through 
the length and breadth of the lower provinces, on horseback 
in summer and on snowshoes in winter, visiting every Eng- 
lish speaking settlement, and everywhere arousing intense 
excitement, which took practical form in breaking up old 
church establishments and forming- new societies. In August 
1783, he found himself doomed for the grave, and started 
upon a journey to New England and a milder climate. On 
the way he preached as opportunity offered, but was overtaken 
by the destroyer while still in New Hampshire, and died at 
North Hampton in that state Feb. 2, 1784, without having 
reached the longed for refuge with relatives at Boston. His 
young life seemed fairly to have burned out with the inten- 
sity of its own fires. 

Henry Alline was not an educated man ; nor yet was he 
illiterate, for from the age of nine he was a devoted reader 
of thoughtful books. His journal shows evidence of great 
intellectual activity, and, indeed, of marked natural gifts for 
the pursuit of philosophy. Yet he was too fully absorbed in 
his religious work to devote much time to study or to literary 
composition. The most important of his literary produc- 
tions are two books published after his death. The one is 
" Hymns and Spiritual Songs" a collection of nearly five 
hundred original hymns, which had reached a third edition 
in 1797. The other is his " Life and Journal" published 
at Boston in 1806. Both display genuine power, but need 
to be judged by the standard of his day, rather than by the 
criteria of our own highly favored age. 

The first effect of Alline's religious efforts certainly ap- 
peared to be more largely for evil than for good. He broke 
in upon the settled congregations of the day with a deter- 



30 The emigration to Nova Scotia. 



mined purpose to disturb the existing ecclesiastical relations 
and this purpose was accomplished, even to painful results. 

Families were divided ; old neighbors became fierce enemies; 
old churches became disintegrated, and new organizations 
took their places. 

But there were reasons why such pioneer work in religion 
was needed. The churches of the provinces were then ap- 
parently at a very low ebb spiritually. If we may believe 
John Wesley, the clergymen of the Church of England in 
this region were not all worthy of their appointment. In 
1780 that divine wrote to the Bishop of London as follows: 

" Your Lordship observes there are three ministers in that 
country ( Newfoundland ) already. True, my lord ; but 
what are three to watch over the souls in that extensive coun- 
try. Suppose there were three score of such missionaries in 
the country; could I in conscience .•..recommend these souls to 
their care ? Do they take care of their own souls ? If they 
do, ( I speak with concern ) I fear they are almost the only 
missionaries in America that do. My lord, 1 do not speak 
rashly ; I have been in America, and so have several with 
whom I have lately conversed, and both I and they know 
what manner of men the greatest j art of these are. They 
are men who neither have the power of religion, nor the form; 
men that lay no claim to piety, nor even decency." 

( Smith's Methodism in Eastern British America. ) 

These are serious statements to be made by a clergyman 
about fellow preachers in the same communion. Possibly 
they did not apply to the eight of this denomination then in 
Nova Scotia. But it is certain that after nine years of labor 
along the Basin of Minas, Rev. Joseph Bennett, the resident 
missionary, had but 48 communicants in a population of fully 
a thousand Protestants. 



The emigration to Nova Scotia. 31 



The Presbyterianism of that day, moreover, lacked the life 
and fervor which now give it such aggressive zeal. Most of 
the New England settlers are said to have been Congregation- 
alists, who had come out of the New England churches at a 
time when the absence of religious earnestness in them is a 
matter of well known history. 

On every side, therefore, Alline found religious apathy, 
indifference, and formality, where he looked for vital and 
piactical religion. Social services Avere rarely held. In 1782 
one of the solid men of Liverpool, N. S., prominent in the 
Congregational church there, wrote in his journal thus : 
( Smith's Methodism in Eastern British America. ) 

" A religious meeting was held at my house in the evening ; 
a large concourse of people, I believe nearly one hundred and 
fifty, attended ; which is till of late a very strange thing in 
this place, such a meeting having scarcely been known since 
the settlement of it, till since Mr. Alline was here." 

The disturbance of these cold and formal church relations 
could not be an unmixed evil ; indeed, it was a necessary con- 
dition of genuine religious progress. Few men could have 
done the work better than Alline. " To the one extreme of 
cold religious doctrine he opposed the other extreme of feeling. 
His religion was a religion of feeling. -His writings glow 
with it." The rapture he had felt when conscious of pardon 
he assumed to be the test of religion in himself and others. 
He appealed incessantly to the feelings of his hearers. " He 
dwelt upon the greatness and glory of Christ, his compassion, 
his humiliation, his bleeding love, his joy in saving sinners; 
or else mourning over the insensibility of those whom he ad- 
dressed he sought to alarm them into feeling." He enforced 
his teachings with affectionate earnestness, and throughout 
all his toils and hardships displayed an elevated cheerfulness 



32 The emigration to Nova Scotia. 



and joy. He was a good singer, fervent in prayer, and pos- 
sessed of a copious flow of language. This is evinced not 
only by his printed sermons, but by the book of hymns which 
he composed. Many of the young men who flocked to him 
as leader, and who were converted and joined him in the 
ministry, were of the same type. Passing from settlement to 
settlement, " like religious knight-errants," they made, as was 
natural, a profound impression. The slumbers of the churches 
were thoroughly disturbed and the members were led to 
active effort. 

Alline's doctrinal views appear to have been fragmentary 
and but slightly systematized. He saw in the plainest nar- 
ratives and announcements of Scripture marvellous allegories. 
He was indeed a mystic, but amid all his extravagances of 
opinion his eminent and uniform piety showed that he " loved 
God out of a pure heart fervently." 

No distinct organization now exists as the result of the 
work of A lline and his colleagues. The movement was an 
offshoot of the great New Light movement which followed 
the preaching of Whitefield in America, and in which Rhode 
Island had no small share. Alline's followers were grouped 
into churches resembling the Cengregationalist bodies of 
New England ; but little attention was paid to order or dis- 
cipline, and as a consequence these organizations failed to be 
permanent. In process of time the larger number of the 
New Light preachers and their adherents, who had been 
awakened under Alline's preaching and influence, became 
Baptists and *were gathered into churches of that faith and 
order. A few became leaders among; the Methodists. Cer- 
tain it is that to the pioneer work of Alline and his fellow 
laborers the Baptist denomination owes not only its numeri- 
cal predominance in the fertile valleys of Nova Scotia, but 



The emigration to Nova Scotia. 33 



also the earnest, active type of practical religion which char- 
acterizes it in that province. An appropriate gift, therefore, 
was Henry Alline from the land of John Clarke and Roger 
Williams to the colony at the north. 

Of the descendants of the Rhode Island founders of Nova 
Scotia, many have honorably distinguished themselves in 
public and commercial life. The most eminent literary rep- 
resentatives of the blood now living are doubtless Thomas B. 
Aldus, Record Commissioner at Halifax and editor of the 
Archives of Nova Scotia, and Edward Young, LL. D., now 
U, S- Consul at Windsor, N. S., but long connected with 
the Treasury Department at Washington. Nicholas Mosher, 
Esq., of Newport, was one of the pioneer ship-builders of 
Nova Scotia, who represented his township in the Legislature, 
and was a man of most extensive influence. The Northups 
of Falmouth, have also been prominent. Jeremiah, the origi- 
nal settler, was the first member of the Provincial Assembly 
from that township. His son John was for many years a 
leading merchant of Halifax. A grandson of the latter, the 
late Jeremiah Northup, was Senator of the Dominion of Can- 
ada for Nova Scotia. Edward Albro, Esq., is an aged and 
prominent hardware merchant in Halifax. At Sackville, the 
descendants of Valentine Esterbrooks have ever been numer- 
ous and influential ; some thirty of the name are now upon 
the voting list. A grandson of Eliphalet Reed still lives at 
the age of ninety years and more, to encourage his two sons 
in their work as Christian ministers. Dr. Edward A. Bowser, 
the distinguised professor of mathematics at Rutgers College, 
a native of Sackville, has a Rhode Island ancestry. It is now 
evident, also, that we can add to this list the genial and witty 
Thomas C. Haliburton who died in 1865, having been thir- 
teen years a Judge in Nova Scotia and six years a Member 
5 



34 The emigration to Nova Scotia. 



of Parliament in London, the author of " Sam Slick" and also 
of a " History of Nova Scotia." Tims Rhode Island can 
claim to have furnished the stock from which Canada has 
developed her finest literary flower. 

In closing, let me allude to the interesting - field opened hy 
a knowledge of this emigration to our Rhode Island genealo- 
gists. The proprietors' records and probate records relating- 
to the three townships of Falmouth, Newport, and Sackville, 
together with the lists of grantees and other lists of various 
periods found at Halifax, afford abundant ground for research 
respecting families and individuals who went thither. In 
some cases there is documentary evidence concerning Rhode 
Islanders who never left this colony. For example, on the 
Falmouth records I found an interesting page about a contro- 
versey relating to 43 acres of land in Charlestown, R. I., in 
which Capt. Edward York, of Falmouth, his wife Hannah, 
her father John Larkin, and her brother John Larkin, Jr. all 
figured. At Windsor I found a power of attorney signed by 
Christopher Allen of North Kingstown in 1761, and also the 
will of Edward Church of Little Compton, probated the same 
year. None of these, except Capt. York and his wife, were 
ever residents of Nova Scotia. Occasional references appear 
to the names of relatives in Rhode Island. I need not en- 
large upon the value of such clues in the search for missing- 
links. 

I must, in a word more, allude to the aid rendered me in 
my hasty examination by several gentlemen and one lady 
upon the field. These are, in particular, Dr. David Allison 
and Mr. Thomas B. Akins of Halifax, Mr. C. W. Knowles 
and Dr. Edward Young of Windsor, Miss. Margaret Young 
of Falmouth, and Mr. William II. Knowles and Rev. John 
A. Mosher of Newport. These all, except Dr. Allison, share 



The emigration to Nova Scotia. 



35 



in a Rhode Island ancestry ; and a 1, without exception, mer- 
it the kindest thoughts of their kindred in Rhode Island for 
their generous service to a stranger, who bore no claim to 
their favor save his birth in the city of Roger Williams, and 
his deep interest in the land from which their fathers came. 



APPENDIX. 



List of Persons to whom Town Lots were 'assigned at Fal- 
mouth Nov. 15, 1760. Taken from the Proprietors' Records. 

( It is possible that some of these names were added at a 
later date. ) 



Henry Dennie Denson 

a 

Henry Maturin Denson 
Henry Maturin Denson 
John Denson 

Timothy Saunders 
Lucy Denson 
Nehemiah Wood 
Edw. Ellis Watmouth 
James H. Watmouth 
Edmund Michenor 
Michel Michenor ) 
Matthew Michenor | 
Abel Michenor 



1 

2 


Joseph Wilson 
Jabez Harrington 


14 

15 


3 


Luke Horswell 


16 


4 


Joseph Steel 
Perry Borden 


17 

18 


5 


John Shaver 


19 


6 


Meeting Minister's Lot 


20 


7 


Alex. McCullough 


21 


8 


Adam McCullough 


22 


9 


Ebenezer Millet 


23 


10 
11 


George Lyde 
Thos. Akin 


24 

25 


12 
13 


Moses Marsters ^ 
Martha Dyer j 
Edward York 


26 

27 



36 



The emigration to Nova Scotia 



Ieliabod Stoddard 


28 


Benj. Gerrish, Esq. 


61 


I 


29 


Jonathan Davison 


62 


Wignul Cole ) 




William Shey 


63 


a 


30 


Jona. Marsters 


64 


Thos. Woodworth 


31 


Jesse Crossman 


iS5 


Stephen Akin I 


32 


Benj Salter 


W 


John Lovelass [ 




John Meacham 


67 


John Steele 


33 


David Randall 


68 


John Hicks 


34 


Dan '1 Hovey, Jr. 


69 


Abraham Wheeler 


35 


Eleazer Doane 


70 


Constant Church 


' 36 


Sam. Brow 


71 


Edward Church 


37 


William Wood I 


72 


Terence Fitzpatrick 


38 


Peter Shaw j 




Beiioni Sweet ) 


39 


William Nevil Wolesley 


73 


Edw. Manchester j 




Ahr. Marsters 


74 


Church of England 


Lot 40 


Benj. Hicks 


75 


Walter Manning 


41 


Win. Nevil Wolesley 1-2 


76 


J ohn Gray 


42 


Fred'k. Delks Hore 


77 


Benj. Thurhev 


43 


a 


78 


Chris. Dewey ) 


44 


Charles Proctor 


79 


Samuel Davison | 




John Hicks ( 


80 


John Davison 


45 


John Hicks Jr. ) 




Wiliam Allen 


46 


St. John Broderick 


81 


Mary Paysant 


47 


Samuel Broderick 


82 


James Wilson 


48 


Amos Wenman 


83 


Peter Shaw 


49 


William Shey 


84 


Condemned 


50 to 54 


Joseph Baley ) 


85 


Alex. Grant 


55 


Edward York j 




J ere Northup 


56 


Dan'l Greeno 


86 


Joseph Northup 


57 


Benj. Gerrish 


87 


David Randall | 


58 


Joseph Gooding 


88 


Cyprian Davison \ 




Benj. Meyer 


89 


F. T. Midler 


59 


J. R. Muller 


90 


Joseph Jess 


60 


Shubael Dimock 


91 



The emigration to Nova Scotia 



37 



John Simpson 


92 


William Church 


100 


Alex. Grant 


93 


Fork of River 




David Pake 


94 


Zach. Chase 


1 


Condemned 


95 


Nath. Reynolds 


2 


Abner Hall 


96 


Edw. Humblehatch 


3 


Barnabas Hall 


97 


Lient. DesBarres 


4 


Abner Hall ) 


98 


School Lot 


5 


Thomas Parker ) 




Henry Lyon 


6 


Amos Owen 


99 


John Almand 


7 



II. 



Grantees of the Township of Newport, N. S. 
entered upon the Proprietors' Records, 
tide in the Hants Journal contributed by 



1761, as 
Taken from an ar- 
[r. Joseph Allison. 



Joseph Bailey 
Benjamin Sanford 
Joshua Sanford 
Benjamin Reynolds 
Caleb Lake 
James Mosher 
James Harvie 
John Woolhaber 
Peter Shey 
Samuel Bentley 
James Smith 
James Simpson 
Arnold Shaw 
Samuel Albro 



Jonathan Babcock 
Daniel Wier 
Jeremiah Baker 
Silas Weaver 
James Card 
Stephen Macumber 
Levi Irish 
Ichabod Macumber 
Cornelius Potter 
William Albro 
Samuel Brenton 
Benjamin Wilcocks 
Michael Fish 
John Wood 



38 



The emigration to Nova Scotia. 



Joseph Sanford 
Elislia Clark 
John Slocum 
Jonathan Rogers 
John Gosbee 
Zerobable Wastcoat 
Robert Wastcoat 
Benjamin Borden 
Richard Card 
James Weed en 
Stephen Chapman 
Gilbert Stuart 
John Chambers 
John Harvie 
George Mumford 
John Shaw 
Edward Ellis 
En com Sanford 
Joseph Straight 
Henry Knowles 
Robert Wastcoat Sr 
Stukely Wastcoat 
John Jeffers 



Daniel Dimock 
James York 
James Julian 
George Briohtman 
John Woodman 
Joseph Wilson 
Edward Church 
Archibald Harvie 
Samuel Borden 
William Allen 
William Hallyburton 
Daniel Sanford 
Aaron Butts 
Moses De Les Dernier 
Gideon De Les Dernier 
Peter Bourgeois 
Jonathan Card 
Abel Michener 
James Harvie Jr. 
Isaac Deschamps 
Benjamin Walley 
Amos Walley 



III. 

" The List of the Subscribers for the Township Lying on 
Tantimar River, Represented by Benjamin Thnrber. Cyprian 
Sterry and Edmund Jinks, from Providence in Rhodisland." 
Taken from records in the Province Library at Halifax. The 
date is probably 1761, bnt possibly 1760. 



The emigration to Nova Scotia. 



39 



Jos. Olney 
John Jenckes 
Solo. Wheat 


Wm. Clark 
Jona. Olney 
Wm. Ford 


Benj'n Thurber 
Cyprian Sterry 
Edmund Jenckes 
David Burr 


Sam'l Wetherby 
Step. Angel 
Peleg' Williams 
Jona. Allen 


Jos. Tower 


Peter Randal 


Seth Luther 
Jno. Young- 
Sam Thurber 
Jacob Whitman 


John Tripp 
Nath Day 
John Malavery 
Noah Whitman 


Edmund Tripp 
David Waters 


Nath Buckiin 
Noah Mason 


William Sheldon 
Dan'l Wear 
Rich'd Brown 
Volintine Easterbrooks 
Charles Olnej 
Thos. Field 


Rob't Sterry 

The above 
mentioned names for 
One sliare and & half. 

47 


Thos. Bowen 


23 1-2 


Step. Jenckes 
James Olney 
Win. Brown 
Sam'l Lethredge 


70 1-2 

Elisha Hopkins 
Wm. Walcot 


Gershom H olden 


David Alberson 


Sam'l Currey 
John Foster 


Rob't Potter 
Dan'l Wilcocks 


Sam'l Clark 


John Miillin 


Nathan Case 


Robt Woodward 


Eben'r Robins 


Peter Baieman 



40 



The emigration to Nova Scotia. 



Daniel Tluirber 
Daniel Calioon 
Chas. Symons 
Benj. Gorman 
John Howland 
Nathan Jenckes 
David Tift 
Jos. Brown 
Gideon Smith 
Jos. Hawkins 
Sarah Cottle 
Isaac Cole 
Obediah King 
Thos. Woodward 
Rob't Foster 
Jer. Brownel 
Nath'l Finney 
John Dexter 
Steph. Carpenter 
Levi Potter 
Nedebiah Angel 
John Brown 
James Foster 
Sam'l Briggs 
James Young 
Ichabod Cumstock 
Morris Hern 
Jos. Burden 
Ezra Heyley 
Obediah Sprauge ( sic ) 
Edward Thurber 
John Olney 



Sam'l Toogood 
Jos. Olney, Jr. 
Wm. Whipple 
David Wilbur 
Oliver Casey 
Elisha Smith 
Nathan Case Jr. 
Charles Angel 
Jos. Taylor 
Oliver Man 
Moses Man 
W. Whipple, Jr. 
Wm. Phillips 
Benj. Robinson 
Jona. Pike 
Geoioe Wear 
Edward Giles 
John Smith 
Gilbert Samons 
W T oodbery Morris 
John Wiever 
Nehemiah Sweet 
Stephen Goodspeed 
Abraham Olney 
James Muzey 
Jeremiah Dexter 
William Jenckes 
Henry Finch 
Sam'l Shearman 
Wm. Olney 
John Olney Jr. 
James Olney 



The emigration to Nova Scotia. 



41 



William Olney, Jr. 




Francis Swan, of Massachus's 


Coggeshal Olney 




Daniel Ingols, " 


John Power 




John Wilson, . " 


Aaron Mason 




Nath'l Brown, " 


Nathan Jen ekes 




Abiel Fry, " 


Freelove Tucker 




Simon Fry, u 


Benja. Cousins 




Bemsley Stevens, " 


Rowland Sprague 




Rob't Davis, 


Nathan Giles 




Jer. 


Dexter ( erased ) 


Benja. Medberry 








Nathanael Woodward 








Zeph'r Woodward 






These single 


James Jenckes 






shares each 


William Emerson 






154 


Chas. Spaulding 






47 


-I AnTl 1 lAWTlPT* 








Nath'l Packer 






107 


Thos Sterry 






70 1-2 


A "mtiQD K 1 1 hnrn 








Nathan Sterry 






177 1-2 


Samuel Mott 








James Day of Massachusetts. 




45 first settlers 


Asa Foster 


« 




66 2 do. 


John Peabody 


a 




66 3 do. 


Peter Parker, 


a 






Isaac Blunt, 


u 


« 


177 


Caleby Swan, 


a 







On the back of the paper is written: 

" List of Tantamar Proprietors," 
also 
" A List of the Settlers from Providence in Rhode Island 
Colony." 



42 



The emigration to Nova Scotia. 



IV. 

" Return of the State of the Township of Falmouth, Jan, 
1, 1770." Taken from records in the Province Library at 
Halifax. The names alone are here given ; but the original 
states the number in each family and classifies the property 
of each. 



Henry Denny Denson 
Abel Michenor 
Joseph Wilson 
Joseph Jess 
Levi Irish 
Ichabod Stoddard 
Edward Yorke 
Wignall Cole 
Thomas Woodworth 
Stephen Aken 
John Potter 
Constant Church 
John Simpson 
Jonathan Vickery 
Tamerlain Campbell 
Georo-e Stuart 
Christopher Knight 
Peter Manning 

( * The record states th 
the province within a year 



John Davison 
William Allen 
Malachy Cagan 
Edward Manchester 
Jeremia Northup 
Jacob Mullar 
William Shey 
Benjamin Gerrish 
Jonathan Marsters 
John Loveless 
I. F. W. DesBarres 
George Faesch 
Henry Lyon 
James Wilson 
Luke Horswell * 
Timothy Davison 
Terence Fitzpatrick 

at this man and his family had loft 

•) 

V. 



Return of the State of the Township of Sackville, Jan. 1, 
1770. Taken from the records in the Province Library, Hal- 
ifax. 



The emigration to Nova Scotia. 



43 



Sam'l Bellew 
John Peck 
Joseph Collins 
Gideon Young 
Sam'l Rogers 
Joshua Sprague 
John Olney 
William Lawrance 
Robert Foster 
James Jinks 
John Barnes 
Jacob Bacon 
George Shearman 
Nath'l Finney 
William Olney 
William Alverson 
Ezekiel Fuller 
Jeremiah Brownell 
Daniel Hawkins 
David Tift 
Ameriah Telland 
Thomas Irons 
Thomas Collins 
Nathan'l Rounds 
Amasa Kellum 
Robert Scott 
Calyb Finney 
Stephen Johnson 
Samuel Lettimore 
Gideon Smith 
George Shearman, Jr. 
Nathan Mason 
Nathaniel Mason 



Nathan Simmons 
Samuel Emerson 
David Alverson 
Benjamin Tower 
Joseph Tower 
John Day 

Valentine Esterbrooks 
Robert Lettimore 
Eliphalet Reed 
Seth Hervey 
Gilbert Simmons 
Jacob Fuller 
Josiah Tingley 
Benajah Lewis 
John Thomas 
Job Simmons 
Epherim Emerson 
Benja. Emerson 
Ebenezer Salisbury 
Eben Salisbury, Jr. 
Isreal Thornton 
Isaiah Horton 
Nehemiah Ward 
Jonathan Cole 
William Baker 
Joseph Baker 
William Simmons 
Benja. Mason 
Samuel Lewis 
Samuel Eddy 
John Wood 
Sam'l Irons 



44 



The emigration to Nova Scotia. 



VI. 

Roll or Inventory of Estates in the Township of Newport, 
Dec. 30, 1772. Taken from records in the Province Library, 
Halifax. The date and some of the names are almost illegible. 



Encom Sanford 
George Brightman 
James Smith 
Joseph Bailey, Esq. 
Henry Knowles 
John Smith, Canetcook. 
John Lawrillard 
Benja. Wier 

John M 

Thomas Baker 
William Reed ) 

William Sterling J 
Thomas Allen 
William Coffell 
Isaac Deschamps, Esq. 
Barzillai Mosher 
Francis Smith 
Samuel Cottnam 
Archibald Harvie 
John Brown 
James Simpson 

( agent for Tncker ) 
Ichabod Macomber 
Daniel Dimock 

Abraham Ada 

Robert Waistoc 
James Dormond 



Sam'l Bentley 
John Wood 
Woodward Sanford 
James Card 
Jeremiah Baker 
Thorn. Cochran 
John Simson 
Robert Scott 
Daniel Wiever 
Stephen Wilcox 
James Campbell 
John Anthony 
James Harvie, Jr. 
Benjamin Bnrges 
George Sharahe 
James Fish 
Michael Fish, 

widow her share 
Daniel Greeno 
James Simpson 
John Harvie 
John Mosher 
William Bentley 
James Harvie 
John Chambers 
Shnbael Dimock 
Amos Walley 



The emigration to Nova Scotia. 



45 



Stephen Macomber 

William Smith 

Hugh Smith 

Benja. Sanford 

John Canavan 

John Dinsmore 

James Mosher 

William Smith, Irish 

William Wier 

William Wier forjMr, Shay 

Caleb Lake 

Sanford 

George Mumford 



James Harvie. Jr. & 
Stephen Wileocks 
Benja. Wileocks 
Robert Salter 
Archibald Harvie 
John Woodman 
John Carder 
Phillip Mosher 
Job Card 
James Dormond 
Cornelius Potter 
Abel Michenor 



VII. 

" A list of persons in Newport Township, Nova Scotia, 
qualified to serve on Juries," 1781. Taken from the papers 
of Isaac Deschamps by Thomas B. Akins, Esq. 



James Gamble 
James Mosher 
Allen Mosher 
John Cannan 
Husfh Smith 
Wm. Smith 

.... hen Macomber 
Amos Waley 
Acey Limock 
Thomas Baker 
John Marsters 



Dan'l Dimick 
John Lawald 
Ichabod McComber 
Stephen Macoomber 
John Almand 
James Fogson 

Mosher 

John Bentley 
Barsiler Mosher 
Jonathan Knowles 
John Smith 



46 



The emigration to Nova Scotia. 



John Chambers 

James Bailor 

Wm. MacCoy 

Shub'l Dimock 

McComher 

Pawper 

.... ham Reid 

Francis Mason 

Dan'l Weden 

Wm. Weden 

Philip Mosher 

Edw'd Mosher 

John Macnutt 

Beniamen Wier 

John Brown 

Joseph Baley 

Archibald Harvey 

Francis Smith 

Wm. Smith 

John Rong 



J as. Fish 
Daniel Greno 
Geo. Sharon 
John Harvie 
Wm. Coffin 
Jas. Simpson 
Thos. Smith 
Particat Casey 
Arnold Shaw 
Juda Shaw 
John Wier 
James Dearmet 
Sam'] Donsmore 
Jas. Donsmore 
Francis Donsmore 
Francis Parker 
Ezek'l Marsters 
Wm. Sterling 
Beniamen Sweet 



Sept. 5, 1781. E. Mosher, Constable. 
This is a list of all th this side of Cannetcnt River. 



Wm. Smith 
John Anthony 
David Anthony 
Noah Anthony 
John Smith 
James Wier 
Wm Wier 



Caleb Lake 
Will'm Lake 

Britman 

Sandford 

Benjamen Wilcocks 
Stephen Wilcocks 
Rob't Wilcocks 



The emigration to Nova Scotia. 47 



"Woodward Sanford Edward Barges 

Osborn Sanford Cornelius Potter 

Peleg Sanford Stephen Potter 

James Harvie John Card 

Rob't Salter Job Card 

Will'm Salter Thomas Allen 

John Buroes William Albro 



VIII. 

Notes relating to the Rhode Island Settlers at Newport and 
Falmouth, N. S., taken from the offices of the Register of 
Deeds and the Register of Probate, at Windsor, N. S. 

Transfers of Real Estate. 

1. Christopher Allen of North Kingstown, R. I., to Stuke- 
ley Wascoat of Newport, N. S.; power of attorney relating 
to draught of lands ; June 23, 1761. 

2. James Mosher, attorney for Aaron Butts, to John 
Chambers ; Apr. 14, 1763. 

3. J ohn Jeffers, lease to John Harvie and John Chambers ; 
Apr. 15, 1763. 

4. Joseph Straight to John Chambers ; Apr. 14, 1763. 

5. John Steele to Moses Deles Dernier, Nov. 9, 1763. 

6. Benjamin Borden to Benjamin Sanford, Dec. 13, 1763. 

7. James Mosher to James Simpson, Mar. 2, 1762. En- 
com Sanford, witness. 



48 The emigration to Nova Scotia. 

8. Joshua Sanford to James Simpson, Feb. 6, 1762. 

9. Jonathan Babcock to James Simpson, Oct. 25, 1702. 

10. James Weeden to James Card, Sept. 30, 17G2. Silas 
Wever, witness. 

11. Sam'l Bentley to June 1, 1762. 

12. Nehemiah Wood to Mar. 1, 1763. 

13. Benjamin Reynolds to Stephen Macomber, May 12, 
1764. 

14. William Albro to James Smith, Apr. 14, 1763. 

15. Zerobbabel Wasteoat to John Chambers and James 
Smith, 1763. ( Probably Apr. 14. ) 

16. John Woodman to John Chambers, Apr. 14, 1763. 

17. Sam'l Brown, brickmaker, to Sam'l Watts, tavern- 
keeper, Falmouth. 

18. Eben'r Millett to Thomas Woodworth, Sept. 8, 1764. 

Wills. 
[ Dat. - dated ; p. - admitted to probate. ] 

1. Edward Church of Little Compton, dat. Aug. 15, 
1757, p. Sept. 17, 1761 ; mentions son Constant. 

2. Stephen Chapman, Newport, N. S.; dat. 3d. mo., 12, 
1765 ; mentions wife Zeruiah, children Nathaniel, Rufus, 
William, Dorcas, Lucy. 

3. James Wilson, Falmouth ; mentions brother William 
Wilson, sister Ruth Wilson, cousin Barnabas Wilson. 

4. Richard Card, dat. Sept. 28, 1773, p. Sept. 18, 1775. 



The emigration to Nova Scotia. 49 

5. James Card, dat. Jan. 13, 1778, p. Mar. 28, 1778. 

6. James Weeden. dat. May 27, 1777, p. Dec. 29, 1783 ; 
mentions wife Mary, children Daniel, Naomi Weeden, Wil- 
liam, Mary Canavan. 

7. George Brightman, dat. Jan. 5, 1786, p. May 1, 
1786 ; mentions honored father, children ( under age ) 
George, Susannah, Lydia, Mary, Elizabeth, Esther and Han- 
nah, his nephew George Dimoek, and his brother Thomas 
Brightman. 

8. Joseph Bailey, dat. Apr. 7, 1787, p. Aug. 27. 1787; 
mentions son Joseph Sanford Bailey, daughters Deborah 
Dimoek and Sarah Brown, grandchildren ( the above men- 
tioned children of George Brightman ) and his wife Hannah. 

9. James Harvey, dat. June 26, 1786, p. Dec. 19, 1792; 
mentions sons John, Archibald and James, and daughter 
Margaret. 

10. Wignal Cole, dat. Mar. 27, 1789, p. May 23, 1794 ; 
mentions sister Susannah Cole in Rhode Island, and William 
Cole, son of eldest brother John, in Rhode Island. 

11. Benjamin Wilcox, Mar. 3, 1813, mentions eldest 
son Stephen, sons Robert and Gardiner, daughters Else Har- 
vey, Hittabel Sanford, Francis Card, Esther Mosher, Susan- 
nah Lake, Hannah Brown, Mary Armstrong, and his grand- 
danghter Esther. 

12. Henry Knowles; inventory Jan. 20, 1800, mentions 
daughter Martha sixteen years old, his mother, and his wife 
Molly. Receipts are signed by William Knowles, Sabray 

Knowles, Nathan Knowles, ( possibly Catharine ) 

Knowles, Joshua Smith, Sarah Smith, Molly Knowles and 
Martha Knowles. 7 



The 



Rhode Island Emigration 



to 



Nova Scotia. 



By 

Ray Greene Huling, A. M., 

New Bedford, Mass. 



Providence, R. I., 

Reprinted from the Narragansett Historical Register, 

April, 1889. 



f-B Mr '09 



